Maguindanao town vice mayor attacked at home

KIDAPAWAN CITY: The newly installed vice mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province was killed in a daring attack carried out by unidentified suspects on Sunday morning, authorities here said.

An initial police report said Vice Mayor Anwar Sindatuk was killed by unknown men who barged into his house at around 8:20 a.m..

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the killing of Sindatuk who only recently took the seat of the town’s vice mayor when Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom was killed last month during an alleged shoot out with police operatives in Makilala, North Cotabato.

Mayor Dimaukom was replaced by his wife, the then vice mayor Anida Dimaukom. Based on the law of succession, Sindatuk was then sworn in as vice mayor.

Sindatuk was elected as the first ranking municipal councilor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in the May elections.

He was expected to be buried within 24-hours of his death as per Muslim custom and in observance of Muslim rites for the dead.